Exploring Questions of Environment, Development and Culture in Chiang Mai
A student reflection contributed by Wesley Wang (English Language + USP, Class of 2022)
The overarching theme of the SEA at the Crossroads Programme 2019 revolves around the issue of environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on deteriorating haze and smog conditions in Chiang Mai in recent years. Apart from USP, other schools involved in the programme include Can Tho University (Vietnam), Chiang Mai University (Thailand) and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand).
The programme was divided into three parts:
- Lessons that focused on the topics of air quality;
- Site visits;
- A village segment comprising a 3-day stay in the mountains of Chiang Mai
Lessons
The lessons were largely conducted in the form of lectures, where the problem of haze was explicated through the lens of science and social science. For example, we learnt that while the haze condition can be ameliorated through existing technological tools and crop harvesting practices, sociocultural differences between the rural villages and urban cities impede the implementation of such solutions. This further contributes to heightened tensions and an unwillingness to understand each other’s circumstance and economic realities. Over time, this impasse has impeded Chiang Mai’s progress in arriving at a mutually acceptable consensus, which in part accounts for its worsening air quality.
Apart from dialectical teaching, there were also a fair mix of practical hands-on lab experiments. For example, we tested the efficacy of different types of masks in filtering PM10 and PM2.5 (particles found in various air pollutants such as haze) which illustrated why regular surgical masks are inadequate under unhealthy air conditions. We also conducted a mask fit test to highlight the importance of a mask’s ability to fit different face shapes. Essentially, it was demonstrated that an individual whose face shape is incompatible with the mask would still be susceptible to unhealthy particles entering his respiratory system.
Site Visits
We also visited places related to air quality measurement, as well as cultural heritage sites such as Mount Doi Suthep, Wat Phra That temple and Wat Chedi Luang.
We had the opportunity to experience the act of creating offerings, in preparation for the site visit to the Wat Chedi Luang Temple during the Inthakin Festival, or the “City Pillar Worship”. This worship ritual only permits male worshippers to offer flowers to the Buddha statues in the temple, while the female worshippers have to wait outside.
Apart from the site visits, we also enjoyed a cultural performance while dining with fellow participants from Thailand and Vietnam. The performances took the form of puppetry, traditional dance, and martial arts. In addition, a commentator explained the historical background and origins of these art forms, which made the performance not only a stunning visual display, but a great learning experience as well.
Village Segment
For the village segment of the programme, we were divided into groups and were required to homestay in our assigned villages for 3 days. During the homestay, we interviewed the villagers about their farming practices, and tried to frame these practices within the larger issue of pollution. Our interviews found that the villagers’ accounts of their farming practices deviated widely from the narrative perpetuated by the government. While the government attributes the source of the haze largely to deforestation activities up in the mountains, the villagers explained that deforestation does not contribute significantly towards the haze. In fact, they argue that commercial activities in the cities are the main culprits that lead to the current unhealthy air quality. In trying to deflect the blame from such activities, the government hold the villagers responsible for the worsening haze condition. We also found that the villagers were reluctant to switch to an alternative environmentally-sustainable method of harvesting crops (known as the Maet Jam Model) due to its potentially low pay-out. While experts have confirmed the financial viability of the Maet Jam Model, we found that the lack of confidence in this model can be partly attributed towards the failure to reach out towards the villagers. These findings were then translated into a group presentation and article, which formed part of the deliverables for the programme.
Conclusion
Overall, this trip has been an eye opener for me. It cultivated a heightened understanding of environmental sustainability in the context of both Chiang Mai and other developing countries. Furthermore, it reinforced the idea that problems are often multi-faceted and require solutions which are multidisciplinary – an ethos well preserved and emphasised in USP. The programme has allowed me to connect my education to real-world problems by giving me the opportunity to frame these problems using theories and concepts learnt in my Cultural Studies minor. Specifically, it reminded me of the constant need to maintain an ethno-relative lens when studying foreign cultures and their respective social practices. Having experienced and benefitted greatly from SEA at the Crossroads 2019, I am confident that it will remain a distinctive part of my journey as a USP student.